The match was preceded by an Armistice tribute, with servicemen and the Royal British Legion in attendance. The ground observed two minutes silence after a wreath of poppies was laid in the centre circle.

When the game got underway, both sides got early sights at goal at the start of a first half which didn't have much more action.

Miles John had a shot from inside the penalty area held by Steve Oliver, and a minute later Kevin Squire latched on to a ball over the top, with his half-volley going over the crossbar.

John had another sight at goal 20 minutes later after some good work down the left flank from Kyle Tooze, Luke Spokes and Lewis Ellington. Ellington's cross to the back post was met by John, who couldn't get his effort on target.

The Robins weren't too troubled apart from that, but didn't do much themselves either. A bending shot from Ryan Turner which was acrobatically tipped around the post by Hodges was about as good as it got 10 minutes before the break.

Bideford were markedly better in the second half, creating more chances and opening the game up.

Jordan Ricketts had a shot blocked by James Bloom, Sam Haynes saw an effort held and Ben Wood fired off target inside the first 10 minutes of the second period.

The visitors broke dangerously after a Ben Carter pass was telegraphed, but Tooze's ball across goal was too far ahead of Ellington.

More Bideford pressure followed, with Turner firing a shot at Hodges and Kevin Squire heading just wide after getting on the end of a deep cross from Ricketts. Substitute Will Hancox was also denied by Hodges.

The visitors almost snatched it with four minutes remaining when substitute Louis Britton burst through to go one on one with Oliver. He got his effort past the Bideford keeper but was unable to get it on target.

With the game heading into stoppage time, Turner looked as though he was going to seal a win for the Robins with a free header in the penalty area. The striker sent his header from a Hancox cross back across Hodges, but the keeper was alert to it and managed to catch the effort.

About North Devon Gazette

First published in 1856 as the Bideford Gazette, the North Devon Gazette is the free newspaper and website for the region, covering a vast area from Hartland in the west to Lynton in the east and to South Molton and Holsworthy in the south.